New Look

For Christmas I got a trip to the salon. My friend Lori cuts hair and I asked her to do something different. I feel like I've had the same look for years, so she got to work. I thing it's so funny that if I want a picture of myself I have to take it. There are so few pictures of women, since they are the ones usually taking the pictures. Here's a challenge! Start taking pictures of yourself. Who knows, maybe whoever sees you might offer to take one for you! I better be seeing some pictures on blogs of self portraits!

My Boy and Me

Evi and Sebastian have very different personalities. Evi was never a snuggler and seems to want to get out into the world on her own and experience life. For those that know her she has a hard time keeping quiet and she never has met a stranger. Sebastian on the other hand doesn't seem to mind always being close, and never wants to talk to anyone. He is the one who gets into bed with us every morning for snuggles and I am trying to enjoy all of it. I know he won't always be that way. 

So today as we were fishing and hanging out, he said a couple of things that I had to post about. As we were fishing, he was telling me that he had a bad dream last night. I asked him about it.

Sebastian: I had a bad dream in the night.

Me: Really? What was it about?

Sebastian: I was eating a hamburger and it had pickles and mustard.

(He doesn't like pickles)

Then as we were fishing I caught a fish, and he came over to "help" me. Later on I told him I think I got something. There was a lot of moss on the floor of the pond and I guess my hook got caught. When I reeled it I saw that it was just moss. He said "Momma, you got some weed!"

I was glad it was just the two of us at that point.

Anyway, I hope he remembers me fishing with him and letting him drive.

Best Friend Cousins

Liesel had a sleep-over last night. The girls get along great and enjoy being with each other. Even though we had to quiet some giggles at bed-time the girls always seem to just click.

Today we went to the ranch to see Red Rain and to fish. Liesel and Evi had fun brushing her and then they were off to fish, even though they didn't catch anything.

My Little Fisherman

My little guy got a fishing pole for Christmas, so when we went to see Evi's horse yesterday he was so excited to get to use his fishing pole. We caught nothing though, but he had so much fun. It is so fun to see Red Rain grow and now she has winter fur and she looks fluffy. Juan, Sebastian and I were all fishing but I guess it was too cold. Maybe next time.

The craziness comes to an end

Most years people get crazy once the holidays come into sight. Traveling, cooking, spending money, kids and presents, and family.

We had a great time with my sister and her family for Christmas. Since no one wanted to dog sit we decided to not go to Mexico... Just kidding, we didn't go because of other reasons too, but we finally decided to stick around this year. It was a fun time, the kids get along with each other, the girls played Scrabble and the guys were doing who knows what.

This past weekend we went to Bartlesville to see family. We had lunch with one of my many Uncles and Aunts, the kids had so much fun playing with cousins and we had fun visiting with family. Evi spent the night with her second cousins and had a blast! She said she roller skated in the house, and wanted to know if we could get some skates. Afterwards we went to see Nanny and spent some time with her. I told Juan on our way home that I feel she is getting old. I want her to know that we love her. To me the holidays are not about presents or food, but it is about the memories you make with family.

This coming year I will try to make more of an effort to love my family unconditionally, because they are who God has placed in my life. I am glad that I can sleep at night knowing that I am at peace, I'm not in debt, my children love me, my husband is faithful, I have a roof over my head and food on the table and I am blessed! Hope everyone this year can see the family they have in a new light, and can love unconditionally.

Christmas

Here are a few pictures of our Christmas. Sebastian asked me why the boy in Polar Express got to see Santa and he didn't, so I had Juan take him to Bass Pro Shop to see Santa but he got cold feet and Evi was the only one who sat on Santa's lap this year.

Two recipes

Okay. Here is the recipe for the cinnamon rolls and the spicy crackers.

I use a bread machine, and this recipe is for rolls or bread, but I just rolled out the dough and put cinnamon on it for cinnamon rolls.

In your bread machine you put:

7 oz. of milk room temperature

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup butter softened

1 egg

3 1/4 c. flour

2 tbsp sugar (in one corner)

2 tsp yeast in another corner

1/4 c. water

Put your setting on dough, and when its risen once, put dough on floured surface, roll out spread with melted butter and then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar(You can add pecans or raisins if you like). Then roll and use string or dental floss to cut the dough. I placed in a 9x13 pan with melted butter, brown sugar and some corn syrup for a caramel sauce. Then you place in a warm place to rise(to about twice the size) and bake at 350 till golden brown.

To do dinner rolls or loaf, do the same. Except when it is done rising, punch down and either cut pieces off to make into rolls or take dough and roll into a loaf, let rise around 30 min. bake 400 for 10 min, or longer for loaf.

Spicy Crackers

Super easy, fast and a crowd pleaser.

3 pkgs of saltines ( in a gallon size zip-lock bag)

In tupperware mix:

1 cup canola oil

1 pkg ranch dip  mix

2 tbsp crushed red peppers

Mix together and pour over crackers. Let set and flip bag over and over till all is coated. Mixture will dry on crackers the longer it sits.